EP3588059A1 - Flow cell - Google Patents
Flow cell Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3588059A1 EP3588059A1 EP19182323.6A EP19182323A EP3588059A1 EP 3588059 A1 EP3588059 A1 EP 3588059A1 EP 19182323 A EP19182323 A EP 19182323A EP 3588059 A1 EP3588059 A1 EP 3588059A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- light
- main body
- cell
- convex portion
- flow path
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 19
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005558 fluorometry Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000002835 absorbance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002834 transmittance Methods 0.000 description 2
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009509 drug development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004020 luminiscence type Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
- G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
- G01N21/0303—Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
- G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
- G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
- G01N15/1434—Optical arrangements
- G01N15/1436—Optical arrangements the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
- G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
- G01N21/05—Flow-through cuvettes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
- G01N21/41—Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/01—Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
- G01N21/03—Cuvette constructions
- G01N21/05—Flow-through cuvettes
- G01N2021/058—Flat flow cell
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N2201/00—Features of devices classified in G01N21/00
- G01N2201/06—Illumination; Optics
- G01N2201/063—Illuminating optical parts
- G01N2201/0636—Reflectors
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a flow cell.
- An object of this disclosure is to provide a flow cell by use of which the size of an optical analysis apparatus can be reduced.
- the flow cell includes: a cell main body having a first surface; a flow path provided in the cell main body; a convex portion provided on a second surface of the cell main body opposite to the first surface via the flow path, and having a curved surface protruding toward a side opposite to the flow path; and a reflector formed on the curved surface. Light incident on the flow path from the first surface is reflected by the reflector on the curved surface and is receivable on the first surface side.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flow cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the flow cell according to the embodiment.
- Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of Fig. 1 taken along a portion of a one-dot chain line A.
- the flow cell 1 has a cell main body 11, a flow path 12, a convex portion 13, and a reflector 14.
- a transverse sectional shape of the flow path 12 (a sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the arrow direction of Fig. 2 ) can be, for example, a rectangle. However, the transverse sectional shape of the flow path 12 may be a circle, an ellipse, or the like.
- a method for machining the cell main body 11 to make a through hole therein may be used, or a method for bonding (e.g. fusing) four independent plate-like materials to one another may be used.
- the reflector 14 is formed on the curved surface 13a of the convex portion 13.
- the reflector 14 may extend from the curved surface 13a of the convex portion 13 to the second surface 11b of the cell main body 11.
- a material high in reflectance at a wavelength of light incident on the cell main body 11 is selected as the material of the reflector 14.
- a metal material such as silver (Ag), gold (Au) or aluminum (Al) can be used as the material of the reflector 14.
- the reflector 14 can be formed, for example, by a sputter method.
- the reflector 14 can be, for example, not thicker than about 1 ⁇ m.
- the reflector 14 is formed on the curved surface 13a of the convex portion 13. Thus, light entering the flow path 12 from the first surface 11a of the cell main body 11 can be reflected by the reflector 14 on the curved surface 13a and then received on the first surface 11a side of the cell main body 11.
- the curved surface 13a of the convex portion 13 is a paraboloid.
- the reflector 14 is formed on the curved surface 13a which is a paraboloid, light incident on the cell main body 11 from various directions on the first surface 11a side of the cell main body 11 can be reflected by the reflector 14 so as to be condensed into one point (a focal point of the convex portion 13) on the first surface 11a side of the cell main body 11 by the curved surface 13a.
- a light detector is disposed at the focal point of the convex portion 13 when the flow cell 1 is used in an optical analysis apparatus. In this manner, a light irradiator can be disposed at any position as long as light radiated by the light irradiator can enter the flow path 12 from the first surface 11a of the cell main body 11.
- the light detector may be disposed at a suitable position to receive reflected light of light radiated from the light irradiator when the flow cell 1 is used in the optical analysis apparatus.
- the convex portion 13 can serve as a light condensing lens
- the reflector 14 can serve as a mirror. Since the convex portion 13 and the reflector 14 are integrated with the cell main body 11, the number of components can be smaller than that in a background-art flow cell in which a convex portion 13, a reflector 14 and a cell main body 11 are disposed separately from one another. Thus, the size of the flow cell 1 can be reduced.
- Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an optical analysis apparatus according to the present embodiment.
- the optical analysis apparatus 5 is an apparatus for performing absorptiometry or fluorometry, and has the flow cell 1, a light irradiator 2, a light detector 3, and an electric block 4.
- the electric block 4 has a light source driver 41, an A/D converter 42, a signal processor 43, and a controller 44.
- the light irradiator 2 is disposed on the first surface 11a side of the flow cell 1, and has a function of irradiating the flow cell 1 with light.
- Light emitting elements such as a light emitting diode, a super luminescence diode and a laser diode can be used as the light irradiator 2.
- the light emitting elements are preferred because a peak width of a spectrum of light emitted by any of the light emitting elements is so narrow that the light does not have to be monochromatized by a spectrometer but can be used directly as measurement light.
- the light detector 3 is disposed on the first surface 11a side of the flow cell 1, and has a function of receiving reflected light of the light with which the flow cell 1 is irradiated by the light irradiator 2 and converting the received reflected light into an analog voltage.
- a light receiving element such as a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) can be used as the light detector 3. It is preferable that a light receiving element high in sensitivity to the wavelength of the light emitted from the light irradiator 2 is selected as the light detector 3.
- the light source driver 41 of the electric block 4 supplies a current to the light irradiator 2 in response to a command of the controller 44 so as to activate the light irradiator 2 to emit light.
- the light source driver 41 may activate the light irradiator 2 to emit light continuously or to emit light in pulses.
- the A/D converter 42 converts a detection signal from the analog voltage into which the light received by the light detector 3 has been converted, into a digital signal and sends the converted digital signal to the signal processor 43.
- the signal processor 43 has a function of performing absorptiometry or fluorometry based on the digital signal obtained from the A/D converter 42.
- the controller 44 is configured to perform overall control on the optical analysis apparatus 5. For example, the controller 44 is configured to send a command to the light source driver 41 or the signal processor 43.
- the signal processor 43 and the controller 44 can be configured to, for example, include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ROM (Read Only Memory), an RAM (Random Access Memory), a main memory, etc.
- a CPU Central Processing Unit
- ROM Read Only Memory
- RAM Random Access Memory
- various functions of the signal processor 43 and the controller 44 can be implemented by a program that has been stored on the ROM etc., and that is read by the main memory and executed by the CPU.
- the signal processor 43 and the controller 44 may be partially or entirely implemented by only hardware.
- the signal processor 43 and the controller 44 may be physically constituted by devices etc.
- the light source driver 41 supplies a current to the light irradiator 2 in response to a command of the controller 44 in a state in which a sample is flowing in the arrow direction inside the flow path 12 of the flow cell 1 in Fig. 3 , measurement light L emitted by the light irradiator 2 is radiated on the flow cell 1 from the first surface 11a side of the cell main body 11. Incidentally, the sample is made to flow inside the flow path 12 in order to prevent air bubbles from staying inside the flow path 12.
- the light detector 3 converts the received reflected light R into an analog voltage corresponding to the light quantity thereof, generates a detection signal from the analog voltage, and then sends the generated detection signal to the A/D converter 42.
- the A/D converter 42 converts the detection signal into a digital signal, and sends the converted digital signal to the signal processor 43, which can, for example, calculate an absorbance of the sample flowing inside the flow path 12, based on the digital signal obtained from the A/D converter 42.
- a plurality of light irradiators 2 may be disposed.
- the light irradiators 2 emitting light with different wavelengths can be disposed.
- the light irradiator 2 can be disposed at any place as long as the light detector 3 is disposed at a focal position of the convex portion 13 in advance. Even in this case, the reflected light R returns to the position of the light detector 3. Accordingly, the light irradiators 2 can be disposed easily.
- the light irradiators 2 can be disposed on the circumference centering the light detector 3, for example, in view of a direction of a normal line to the first surface 11 a of the cell main body 11.
- the optical analysis apparatus 5 uses the flow cell 1. Accordingly, the number of components in the optical analysis apparatus 5 can be smaller than that in the background-art optical analysis apparatus. Thus, the size of the optical analysis apparatus 5 can be reduced. As a result, by use of the optical analysis apparatus 5, optical analysis can be performed at various places so that measurement results can be obtained quickly.
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
Abstract
A flow cell (1) includes: a cell main body (11) having a first surface (11a); a flow path (12) provided in the cell main body (11); a convex portion (13) provided on a second surface (11b) of the cell main body opposite to the first surface (11a) via the flow path (12), and having a curved surface (13a) protruding toward a side opposite to the flow path (12); and a reflector (14) formed on the curved surface (13a). Light incident on the flow path (12) from the first surface (11a) is reflected by the reflector (14) on the curved surface (13a) and is receivable on the first surface side.
Description
- This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No.
2018-119574 filed on June 25, 2018 - The present disclosure relates to a flow cell.
- Analysis using optics has been performed in various fields such as life science, drug development and environmental evaluation. For example, absorptiometry, fluorometry, etc. are available as methods of such analysis. These methods are performed to irradiate a sample inside a flow path of a flow cell with measurement light with an ultraviolet wavelength, a visible wavelength, an infrared wavelength, or the like and analyze a wavelength characteristic of light transmitted through or reflected on the sample.
- An optical analysis apparatus using a flow cell is constituted by lots of individual components such as a light irradiator, a light detector, a light condensing lens and a mirror. The optical analysis apparatus is required to have a space where the separate components can be disposed. For this reason, it is difficult to reduce the size of the optical analysis apparatus (see e.g.,
JP-A-2002-514308 - An object of this disclosure is to provide a flow cell by use of which the size of an optical analysis apparatus can be reduced.
- Certain embodiments provide a flow cell. The flow cell includes: a cell main body having a first surface; a flow path provided in the cell main body; a convex portion provided on a second surface of the cell main body opposite to the first surface via the flow path, and having a curved surface protruding toward a side opposite to the flow path; and a reflector formed on the curved surface. Light incident on the flow path from the first surface is reflected by the reflector on the curved surface and is receivable on the first surface side.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flow cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the flow cell according to the embodiment; and -
Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an optical analysis apparatus according to the embodiment. - The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, in the respective drawings, like constituent sections will be referred to by like signs respectively and correspondingly so that duplicate description thereof may be omitted.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flow cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the flow cell according to the embodiment.Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section ofFig. 1 taken along a portion of a one-dot chain line A. - With reference to
Fig. 1 andFig. 2 , theflow cell 1 has a cellmain body 11, aflow path 12, aconvex portion 13, and areflector 14. - The cell
main body 11 is a section where theflow path 12 and theconvex portion 13 are formed, and which is, for example, formed into the shape of a quadrangular prism. A material high in transmittance at a wavelength of light incident on the cellmain body 11 is selected as the material of the cellmain body 11. Specifically, a glass material or a plastic material is selected in consideration of the wavelength of the light incident on the cellmain body 11. However, it is preferable to use quartz glass high in transmittance of light having a comparatively wide wavelength range from ultraviolet to infrared. - The
flow path 12 is a path in which a sample (a liquid or a gas which is an inspection target) flows. Theflow path 12 penetrates the cellmain body 11, and has one opening end serving as aninlet 12a through which the sample is introduced from the outside into theflow path 12, and the other opening end serving as anoutlet 12b through which the sample flowing inside theflow path 12 is discharged from theflow path 12 to the outside. Incidentally, two arrows inFig. 2 designate a direction in which the sample flows inside theflow path 12. - A transverse sectional shape of the flow path 12 (a sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the arrow direction of
Fig. 2 ) can be, for example, a rectangle. However, the transverse sectional shape of theflow path 12 may be a circle, an ellipse, or the like. In order to form theflow path 12 in the cellmain body 11, a method for machining the cellmain body 11 to make a through hole therein may be used, or a method for bonding (e.g. fusing) four independent plate-like materials to one another may be used. - The cell
main body 11 includes afirst surface 11a, and asecond surface 11b opposite to thefirst surface 11a through theflow path 12. Thefirst surface 11a is a flat surface. Theconvex portion 13 protruding toward an opposite side to theflow path 12 is provided on thesecond surface 11b. Theconvex portion 13 is provided with acurved surface 13a on an opposite side to thesecond surface 11b. Incidentally, the cellmain body 11 and theconvex portion 13 are integrated with each other. However, a boundary between the cellmain body 11 and theconvex portion 13 is indicated by a broken line inFig. 2 for convenience sake. - The
reflector 14 is formed on thecurved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13. Thereflector 14 may extend from thecurved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13 to thesecond surface 11b of the cellmain body 11. A material high in reflectance at a wavelength of light incident on the cellmain body 11 is selected as the material of thereflector 14. Specifically, a metal material such as silver (Ag), gold (Au) or aluminum (Al) can be used as the material of thereflector 14. Thereflector 14 can be formed, for example, by a sputter method. Thereflector 14 can be, for example, not thicker than about 1 µm. - The
reflector 14 is formed on thecurved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13. Thus, light entering theflow path 12 from thefirst surface 11a of the cellmain body 11 can be reflected by thereflector 14 on thecurved surface 13a and then received on thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11. - There is no particular limitation in the shape of the
convex portion 13 as long as the shape has a function by which light entering theflow path 12 from thefirst surface 11a of the cellmain body 11 can be reflected by thereflector 14 formed on thecurved surface 13a, and then received on thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11. Theconvex portion 13 may be, for example, shaped like a dome. Here, the domed shape means a shape whose protrusion amount gradually increases from the circumference toward the center. In order to form theconvex portion 13 on thesecond surface 11b of the cellmain body 11, a method for forming thesecond surface 11b side of the cellmain body 11 thickly in advance and then machining (e.g. grinding) thesecond surface 11b side of the cellmain body 11 may be used, or a method for bonding (e.g. fusing) theconvex portion 13 as a separate body to thesecond surface 11b of the cellmain body 11 may be used. - It is preferable that the
curved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13 is a paraboloid. When thereflector 14 is formed on thecurved surface 13a which is a paraboloid, light incident on the cellmain body 11 from various directions on thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11 can be reflected by thereflector 14 so as to be condensed into one point (a focal point of the convex portion 13) on thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11 by thecurved surface 13a. Accordingly, when thecurved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13 is a paraboloid, a light detector is disposed at the focal point of theconvex portion 13 when theflow cell 1 is used in an optical analysis apparatus. In this manner, a light irradiator can be disposed at any position as long as light radiated by the light irradiator can enter theflow path 12 from thefirst surface 11a of the cellmain body 11. - Incidentally, in a case where the
curved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13 is not a paraboloid, the light detector may be disposed at a suitable position to receive reflected light of light radiated from the light irradiator when theflow cell 1 is used in the optical analysis apparatus. - Thus, the
convex portion 13 can serve as a light condensing lens, and thereflector 14 can serve as a mirror. Since theconvex portion 13 and thereflector 14 are integrated with the cellmain body 11, the number of components can be smaller than that in a background-art flow cell in which aconvex portion 13, areflector 14 and a cellmain body 11 are disposed separately from one another. Thus, the size of theflow cell 1 can be reduced. -
Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating an optical analysis apparatus according to the present embodiment. With reference toFig. 3 , theoptical analysis apparatus 5 is an apparatus for performing absorptiometry or fluorometry, and has theflow cell 1, alight irradiator 2, a light detector 3, and an electric block 4. The electric block 4 has alight source driver 41, an A/D converter 42, asignal processor 43, and acontroller 44. - The
light irradiator 2 is disposed on thefirst surface 11a side of theflow cell 1, and has a function of irradiating theflow cell 1 with light. Light emitting elements such as a light emitting diode, a super luminescence diode and a laser diode can be used as thelight irradiator 2. The light emitting elements are preferred because a peak width of a spectrum of light emitted by any of the light emitting elements is so narrow that the light does not have to be monochromatized by a spectrometer but can be used directly as measurement light. - The light detector 3 is disposed on the
first surface 11a side of theflow cell 1, and has a function of receiving reflected light of the light with which theflow cell 1 is irradiated by thelight irradiator 2 and converting the received reflected light into an analog voltage. For example, a light receiving element such as a photodiode, an avalanche photodiode, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) can be used as the light detector 3. It is preferable that a light receiving element high in sensitivity to the wavelength of the light emitted from thelight irradiator 2 is selected as the light detector 3. - The
light source driver 41 of the electric block 4 supplies a current to thelight irradiator 2 in response to a command of thecontroller 44 so as to activate thelight irradiator 2 to emit light. Thelight source driver 41 may activate thelight irradiator 2 to emit light continuously or to emit light in pulses. - The A/
D converter 42 converts a detection signal from the analog voltage into which the light received by the light detector 3 has been converted, into a digital signal and sends the converted digital signal to thesignal processor 43. Thesignal processor 43 has a function of performing absorptiometry or fluorometry based on the digital signal obtained from the A/D converter 42. Thecontroller 44 is configured to perform overall control on theoptical analysis apparatus 5. For example, thecontroller 44 is configured to send a command to thelight source driver 41 or thesignal processor 43. - The
signal processor 43 and thecontroller 44 can be configured to, for example, include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ROM (Read Only Memory), an RAM (Random Access Memory), a main memory, etc. - In this case, various functions of the
signal processor 43 and thecontroller 44 can be implemented by a program that has been stored on the ROM etc., and that is read by the main memory and executed by the CPU. Thesignal processor 43 and thecontroller 44 may be partially or entirely implemented by only hardware. In addition, thesignal processor 43 and thecontroller 44 may be physically constituted by devices etc. - The
light irradiator 2, the light detector 3 and the electric block 4 can be fixed to thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11 by a holder having a predetermined shape. - When the
light source driver 41 supplies a current to thelight irradiator 2 in response to a command of thecontroller 44 in a state in which a sample is flowing in the arrow direction inside theflow path 12 of theflow cell 1 inFig. 3 , measurement light L emitted by thelight irradiator 2 is radiated on theflow cell 1 from thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11. Incidentally, the sample is made to flow inside theflow path 12 in order to prevent air bubbles from staying inside theflow path 12. - The measurement light L radiated on the
flow cell 1 is transmitted through the sample flowing inside theflow path 12, and then reflected as reflected light R by thereflector 14 on thecurved surface 13a. The reflected light R is transmitted through the inside of theflow path 12 again, and then received by the light detector 3 disposed on thefirst surface 11a side of the cellmain body 11. A light quantity of the reflected light R received by the light detector 3 reflects an absorbance of the sample flowing inside theflow path 12. - The light detector 3 converts the received reflected light R into an analog voltage corresponding to the light quantity thereof, generates a detection signal from the analog voltage, and then sends the generated detection signal to the A/
D converter 42. The A/D converter 42 converts the detection signal into a digital signal, and sends the converted digital signal to thesignal processor 43, which can, for example, calculate an absorbance of the sample flowing inside theflow path 12, based on the digital signal obtained from the A/D converter 42. - In
Fig. 3 , there is onelight irradiator 2. However, a plurality oflight irradiators 2 may be disposed. For example, thelight irradiators 2 emitting light with different wavelengths can be disposed. Particularly, when thecurved surface 13a of theconvex portion 13 is a paraboloid, thelight irradiator 2 can be disposed at any place as long as the light detector 3 is disposed at a focal position of theconvex portion 13 in advance. Even in this case, the reflected light R returns to the position of the light detector 3. Accordingly, thelight irradiators 2 can be disposed easily. Thelight irradiators 2 can be disposed on the circumference centering the light detector 3, for example, in view of a direction of a normal line to thefirst surface 11 a of the cellmain body 11. - Thus, the
optical analysis apparatus 5 uses theflow cell 1. Accordingly, the number of components in theoptical analysis apparatus 5 can be smaller than that in the background-art optical analysis apparatus. Thus, the size of theoptical analysis apparatus 5 can be reduced. As a result, by use of theoptical analysis apparatus 5, optical analysis can be performed at various places so that measurement results can be obtained quickly. - The present embodiment can be summarized to be described as follows.
- 1) A flow cell (1) comprises:
- a cell main body (11) having a first surface (11a);
- a flow path (12) that is provided in the cell main body;
- a convex portion (13) having a curved surface (13a) that is provided on a second surface (11b) of the cell main body so as to protrude outward from the second surface, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface through the flow path; and
- a reflector (14) that is formed on the curved surface, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect light that has passed through the flow path and arrived at the curved surface toward the first surface.
- 2) The convex portion may have a domed shape.
- 3) The curved surface may be a paraboloid.
- 4) The reflector may be configured to reflect the light toward a focal point of the convex portion. The focal point may be opposed to the first surface and positioned outside the flow cell.
- 5) The cell main body and the convex portion may be made of quartz glass.
- 6) An optical analysis apparatus (5) comprises:
- the flow cell (1);
- a light irradiator (2) that is disposed to face the first surface and configured to emit the light; and
- a light detector (3) that is disposed at a focal point of the convex portion and configured to receive the light reflected by the curved surface.
- While the preferred embodiments have been described in detail heretofore, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and hence, various modifications or replacements can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of claims to be made below.
Claims (6)
- A flow cell (1) comprising:a cell main body (11) having a first surface (11a);a flow path (12) provided in the cell main body (11);a convex portion (13) provided on a second surface (11b) of the cell main body (11) opposite to the first surface (11a) via the flow path (12), and having a curved surface (13a) protruding toward a side opposite to the flow path (12); anda reflector (14) formed on the curved surface (13a); whereinlight incident on the flow path (12) from the first surface (11a) is reflected by the reflector (14) on the curved surface (13a) and is receivable on the first surface side.
- The flow cell (1) according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion (13) has a domed shape.
- The flow cell (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the curved surface (13a) is a paraboloid.
- The flow cell (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cell main body (11) and the convex portion (13) are made of quartz glass.
- The flow cell (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reflector (14) is configured to reflect light toward a focal point of the convex portion (13), the focal point being opposed to the first surface (11a) and positioned outside the flow cell (1).
- An optical analysis apparatus (5) comprises:a flow cell (1) as defined in any of the claims 1 to 5;a light irradiator (2) that is disposed to face the first surface (11a) of the cell main body (11) of the flow cell (1) and configured to emit light; anda light detector (3) that is disposed at a focal point of the convex portion (13) and configured to receive the light reflected by the curved surface (13a) of the convex portion (13).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2018119574A JP2020003215A (en) | 2018-06-25 | 2018-06-25 | Flow cell |
Publications (1)
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EP3588059A1 true EP3588059A1 (en) | 2020-01-01 |
Family
ID=67303346
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP19182323.6A Withdrawn EP3588059A1 (en) | 2018-06-25 | 2019-06-25 | Flow cell |
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US (1) | US20190391069A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3588059A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2020003215A (en) |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US11385163B2 (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2022-07-12 | Becton, Dickinson And Company | Interferometric detection of an object on a surface using wavelength modulation and systems for same |
JP7298746B1 (en) * | 2022-03-30 | 2023-06-27 | 横河電機株式会社 | Optical measuring device, optical measuring system, and optical measuring method |
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JPS62285043A (en) * | 1986-06-03 | 1987-12-10 | Omron Tateisi Electronics Co | Flowcell with condenser |
US5407638A (en) * | 1993-04-28 | 1995-04-18 | Shell Oil Company | Detector-cell adapted for continuous-flow absorption detection |
JP2002514308A (en) | 1997-06-11 | 2002-05-14 | ネルコ ケミカル カンパニー | Semiconductor fluorimeter and method of using the same |
US20060160209A1 (en) * | 2004-10-13 | 2006-07-20 | U.S. Genomics, Inc. | Systems and methods for measurement optimization |
WO2013181453A2 (en) * | 2012-05-30 | 2013-12-05 | Cytojene Corp. | Flow cytometer |
JP2018119574A (en) | 2017-01-24 | 2018-08-02 | 日本精工株式会社 | Worm reduction gear |
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US3989381A (en) * | 1975-05-05 | 1976-11-02 | Coulter Electronics, Inc. | Optical chamber with spherical reflective portion and apparatus employing same |
WO2001027590A2 (en) * | 1999-10-12 | 2001-04-19 | Becton Dickinson And Company | Optical element for flow cytometry |
US7528951B2 (en) * | 2006-03-23 | 2009-05-05 | Hach Company | Optical design of a measurement system having multiple sensor or multiple light source paths |
US9816911B2 (en) * | 2013-11-14 | 2017-11-14 | Beckman Coulter, Inc. | Flow cytometry optics |
JP6714427B2 (en) * | 2016-05-17 | 2020-06-24 | アズビル株式会社 | Particle detecting device and method for inspecting particle detecting device |
-
2018
- 2018-06-25 JP JP2018119574A patent/JP2020003215A/en active Pending
-
2019
- 2019-06-17 US US16/442,962 patent/US20190391069A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2019-06-25 EP EP19182323.6A patent/EP3588059A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JPS62285043A (en) * | 1986-06-03 | 1987-12-10 | Omron Tateisi Electronics Co | Flowcell with condenser |
US5407638A (en) * | 1993-04-28 | 1995-04-18 | Shell Oil Company | Detector-cell adapted for continuous-flow absorption detection |
JP2002514308A (en) | 1997-06-11 | 2002-05-14 | ネルコ ケミカル カンパニー | Semiconductor fluorimeter and method of using the same |
US20060160209A1 (en) * | 2004-10-13 | 2006-07-20 | U.S. Genomics, Inc. | Systems and methods for measurement optimization |
WO2013181453A2 (en) * | 2012-05-30 | 2013-12-05 | Cytojene Corp. | Flow cytometer |
JP2018119574A (en) | 2017-01-24 | 2018-08-02 | 日本精工株式会社 | Worm reduction gear |
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JP2020003215A (en) | 2020-01-09 |
US20190391069A1 (en) | 2019-12-26 |
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